Cutting apparatus



y' 2, 1929- E. D. LOEWENTHAL 1.719.229

' TTTTTTTTTTTTTT US I Fild Oct. 31, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet l l :ii' a 57 l July 2, 1 E. D. LOEWENTHAL CUTTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 31, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 2, 9- E. D. LOEWENTHAL 1.719.229

CUTTING APPARATUS Filed'octyl, 1927 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD D. LOEWENTHAL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Application. filed October 31, 1927.

The invention relates to cutting apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for cut ting the thread from the rims of vehicle wheels of the solid rubber type.

Apparatus for this purpose has heretofore been proposed which embodied a stationary knife, a rotatable chuck for supporting the wheel, and manually operable mechanism for feeding the solid rubber tread into contact with the knife. In apparatus of thischaracter the knife quickly dulls and the cut strip is of uneven thickness because of the irregularities which appear in the periphery of the tread and the diiiiculty in manually feeding the wheel into contact with the knife.

Other machines of this general character have been proposed but such machines have been concerned with the problems of completely removing the tread from the rims so thatnew rubber could be applied to renew the utility of the Wheels. These machines have embodied no means or mechanism for cutting the rubber tread into a strip of uniform thickness.

One object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for removing the tread from the rims of used hard or solid rubber vehicle wheels, which is an improvement on previous machines of this character, and in which provision is made for automatically cutting the tread into strips of uniform thickness regardless of depressions, rolls or other irregularities in the periphery thereof; In practice, many uses have been found for these strips particularly in connection with the manufacture of various commercial articles, such, for example, as door mats of the type that includes staggered rubber lengths. In general, the apparatus comprises a frame or supporting structure, a chuck for holding the wheel that is to be stripped of its tread, and a cylinder or roller which is rotatedby any suitable mechanism. The chuck is movably mounted on the frame in suitable longitudinal guides and is subject to the action of the spring, which results in the wheel being pressed into contact with the drive cylinder. A movable knife, preferably in the form of a band or continuous strip is arranged in close proximity and in a fixed position with respect to the cylinder and is operable to cut the tread into a longitudinal strip as the wheel is rotated, due to its engagement :with the cylinder. By rotating the wheel and arrang lag the knife in the manner set fnrth, map

cu'r'rme APPARATUS.

Serial No. 229,853.

plicated feed mechanism is dispensed with and the strip is of uniform thickness throughout its entire length, even though the wheel to which it was attached prior to cutting was undulatory.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a machine or apparatus of this character which is efficient inits operation, consists of a comparatively small number of parts so that it may be manufactured at a low cost, and is of new and improved construction.

Other and more or less incidental objects will appear hereafter from the detailed description. i

The invention consists in the several. novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by the claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings which form a part of this disclosure or specification: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying the i11- vention. Fig. 2 is a plan view, a portion of the knife being omit-ted for purposes of illustration. Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing in detail the mounting forthe chuck and the operating crank and shaft therefor. Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 41-4 of Fig. 1, showing in detail the pulleys for driving the cylinder or roller.

The invention is exemplified in an apparatus for cutting the tread a from the rim a of a used vehicle wheel A of the solid or hard rubber type. The apparatus comprises a rigid angle iron frame or supporting structure which consists of a pair of side bars 10 having horizontal topflanges 10 and vertical flanges 10 depending from the outer margins of the flanges 10; vertical bars 11 which are disposed. at the ends of the side bars and form supporting legs for the structure; and a pair ofend bars 12. The vertical bars 11. have transversely extending flanges 11 and flanges 11 which extend longitudinally of the frame and. are welded at theirupper ends to the ends of the flanges 10' to secure the bars 11 in their leg forming position. The end bars 12 operate to space the side bars 10 apart. These end'bars have horizontal flanges 12 and vertical flanges 12 which are welded at their ends to the upper ends of the flanges 11.

The wheel A is rotatably supported at the front end of the frame by means of a chuck 13, which is positioned above the side bars 10 and arranged to rotate about a vertical ll lt comprises a ver. tally ea tending tubular element 14 and a spider 15 having radially extending arms 16. The hub portion 17 of the spider extends around the upper end ofthe element 14; and issecured thereto against relative rotation by a key 18.

Jaws 19-for engaging and grippingthe inner periphery of the rim a are slidably mounted in radially extending channels or ways 20 which are formed in the outer ends of the arms 16. These jaws are radially adjustable by means of screw-shafts 21 which are disposed ahove' the arms 16 and are journalled in bearings 22 against endwise movement. The latter are shown in the form of lugs which are formed integrally with the spider 15 and projectupwardlytherefrom. The inner ends of the shafts 21 are provided with bevelled pinions 23 which mesh with a bevelled pinion 24. The latter is fixed to the upper end of a shaft 25 which extends through the tubular element 14:. By rotating the shaft 25 the intermediary shafts and pinions operate to elfect conjoint and uniform adjustment of the jaws 19. The adjustment of these jaws is such that wheels of different diameters may readily be applied to the chuck. A crank 26 is fixed to the lower end of the shaft 25 to per mitthe: latter to be readily operated. The chuck 13 exemplifies a device for holding a used solid rubber'vehicle wheel in a position whereby its tread is free to be cut from the rim. The chuck also exemplifies a device for this purposewhich isadapted to hold wheels of different sizes.

Thelower endof the tubular element 1% passes through and 1s rotatably mounted in a block or slab 27 which is disposed at one c .10 of one of the side bars 10. The guide member 30 is secured to the top face of a rectangular plate 32 which is fixed to the other side bar and the flange12 of one of the end bars.

Each guide member is provided'adjacent its inner face with a longitudinally extending Mb 33 which fits 1nto a grooveB l which is formed in the contiguous or contacting face of the block 27. The ribs 33 and grooves 34 exemplify means for supporting the block so that the latter may be shifted or reciprocated longitudinally of the frame.

'The cylinder 31 against which the tread of the wheel A is pressed as hereinafter described is rotated so as to impart movement to the wheel. This cylinder is mounted on a vertical shaft 35, the ends of which project beyond the ends of the cylinder and are mounted in bearing brackets 36 and 37. The top bracket 36 is connected by rivets 38 to the intermediate portion of a bracket strip The ends of the latter extend rearwardly and outwardly and are riveted as at -10 to the inner flanges 41 of a pair of angle iron standards -11. The lower bracket 37 is similarly connected to the standards. The latter are rigidly connected to the side bars 10, the flanges 4-1 being welded to the \erl ical flanges 10" of said side bars. 'lriangular plates l2 are provided for the purpose of reinforcingthe connection between the standards and the fral'ne-bars 10. The mechanism for driv ins;- the cylinder 31 comprises a pulley wheel 13 which is driven, when desired, by a belt (not shown) and is mounted on one end of a shaft 14:. The latter extends transversely to the frame and is mounted in bearing: brackcts 445 which are connected by bolts 46 to the outer flanges ll" of the standards. A pulley -17 is jonrnalled on the central portion of the shaft fit and is keyed to rotate thcrewilh.

-This pulley is connected by a belt if) to drive,

which are loosely mounted on angular parls of a pair of shaft sections 51 and 51". The outer ends of these sections are lixed in hearing brackets 52 which are bolted, like the brackets 4-5, to the flanges 4-1" of the stain lards.

The block 27 is pressed toward the rear end of the frame to force the tread a into driving contact with the periphery of the cylinder 31 by means of a coiled spring; 533. This spring is interposed between the block anda bracket 54- and is compressed to such a degree that its OPOI'utlYc force is always sufficient to force the tread into lirm contact or relation with the cylinder. The bracket 5- is connected by rivets 55 to the horizontal flange 12 of the end member at the front of the frame. A guide shaft 56 extends through the spring to prevent displacement thereof. The inner end of this shaft exleinls into socket 57 which formed in the front face of the block and is held therein by a pin 58 which extends transversely through the block. The outer end of the shaft 56 is slidably mounted in the bra -kct 5-1 so that the shaft is free to move back and forth wilh the block. A crank 59 is connecled lo the outer end of the shaft 56 by a screw thread (it). This crank is normally positioned at the extreme outer end of the shaft so that it will not contact with the bracket 51 and impair orstop the inward movement of the block: and chuck. \Vhen the wheel A is placed on or removed from the chuck it is essent al that the spring 53 be rendered inoperutiw and the chuck and parts associated therewith be shifted away from the cylinder 31.. This til) 'tread a is cut from the rim in the form of a strip, by means of a knife 61 which has a blade 61 and is preferably of the band type.

f This knife is supported by an upper wheel 62 and a lower wheel 63. T he latter is journalled on the pulley driven shaft 44 and is fixed by any suitable means to rotate therewith. The upper wheel 62 is an idler wheel and is positioned directly over the lower wheel, that is, in vertical alignment therewith. The wheel 62 is supported by a shaft 64;, the ends of which are secured in brackets 65. These brackets are adjust-ably secured to the upper ends of the standards to permit the shaft 64-. to be shifted vertically to lake up anyslack in the knife. The wheels and 63 are arranged on their respective siuaporting shafts so that the front reach of the knife is at one side of the cylinder and is in such a position that it strikes the rubber tread substantially tangentially. This reach 1S arranged in close proximity to the cylinder and is held in a fixed position relatively thereto by means of a vertical series of rollers 66. The latter are mounted in a guide-member which supportedby a pair ofbracesor arms 68. The rear ends of these arms are connectedv to the bracket strips 39by means of rivets 69. The rollers have grooved perii iheries for receiving the outer margin of the knife. By means of these grooves the knife is held against nioveiinent or deflection longitudinal ly of the frame. The rollers 66 exemplify guide means for i'naintaining the operative portion of the knife in a fixed position with respect to the cylinder 31. A cha at-tern .o of driving the wheel A and holding the knife as set forth, that the strip which is cut from the tread a is of the same thickiicss throughout its entire length, regardless of any deformation or irregularity in the pcriphery of the tread. By using-a rotary knife in lieu of a s ationary one, the rubber is sheared away with a minimum amount of friction and without being compressed against the knife so that it is cut unevenly.

The blade 61 is beveled 011 the side which is adjacent the wheel sum'iorting elements so that it substantially conforms to the periphery of the tread. As a result, friction between the knife and the uncut portion of the tread is reduced to a minimum. The cut or strip portion of the tread passes in back of the knife and onto the floor. The

knife while being held or positioned in close proximity to the cylinder 31 is spaced therefrom a suilicient distance to permit the rubber to expand into its normal condition after being compressed against the cylinder.

An L-shaped plate riveted to the top flanges of the side bars 10 and forms a top or surface for supporting the strip and neventing it from falling into contact with the mechanism for driving the cylinder.

The operation of the apl'iaratus will be as follows: The crank 59 will first be rotated around the non-rotatable or fixed shaft 56 and into engagement with the bracket- 5 lto render the coiled spring 53 inoperative. In this abutting position continued rotation of the crank will pull the shaft 56 and incidentally the block 27 and chuck 13 outwart 5 due to the operation of the screw thread 60. Assoon as the chuck is shifted. a sufficient distance from the cylinder 31 to permit placement of a wheel A thereon, cranking is discontinued. The crank 26 is then operated to shift the jaws 19 inwardly. The wheel which is to be stripped is then placed around the chuck and the jaws forced outwardly into locking engagement.

with the inner periphery of the rim 0:. T he crank 59 is then loosened to release the block and chuck so that they are subject to the action of the spring 53. The latter operates to forcethe threadc of the wheel into contacting relation with the periphery of the cylinder 3-31. iVhen the operator of the apparatus desires to start the cutting operation, a motor driven beltis applied to the pulley wheel. d3. Rota tion of the latter drives theshaft 4+1; which in turn causes the cylinder 31andthe knife 61 to rotate. Rotation of the cylindercauses the wheel A to rotate and the tread a to be forced intocontact with the operative reach of-the knife. This portion of the knife is held and guided by the rollers 66 so that the cutting part of the blade 61" is disposed in a fixed position with respect to the cylinder. As a rcsult the strip cut from the tread will be of tread has been cut, the operator will stop the operation of the apparatus by removing the motor driven belt from the pulley wheel i3 or operating the crank 59 to shift the wheel out of engagement with the drive cylinder. The rubber cut from the wheel is in the form of a single strip. This strip may, if desired, be cut into lengths and used in the manufacture of rubber door mats or like articles.

Theinvention exemplifies an apparatus for cutting the tread from a used hard or solid rubber vehicle Wheel or tire, which is of new and improved construction, and in which provision ,is made for automatically cutting the tread into a single longitudinal strip which is of uniform thickness throughout its entire length. The apparatusds simple 111 its construction, operates efficiently, and consists of but'a small number of parts. a

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these maybe modified within the scope of the ap pended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invent-ion.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: I r

1. In an apparatus of the character described, the' combination of a supporting structure, an abutment member, a chuck slidable on the structure to and from the'abutment member and adapted to support rotatably a wheel having a solid rubber tread, a

' rotary knife positioned in fixed relation with respect to the abutment member and adapted to cut the tread from the llIIl of the wheel durlngrotation thereof, means including a spring for automatically shifting the chuck to feed the Wheel against theabutment member so that the knife is operative to cut from the tread, durlng rotation of the wheel, an elongated strip of substantially uniform-t1] ickness throughout its entire lengtl'i, and means for rotating the knife. 1

2. In an apparatus of the character. de-

scribed, the combination of a supporting structure, a devicefor rotatably supporting a wheel having a solid rubber tread, a roller, said device beingslidably mounted on the supporting structure to. permit the tread of the wheel to be brought into contact with the roller, spring means for pressing the device towardsaid roller, a knifefor cutting the tread into strip form as the wheel is rotated, and means for driving the roller to rotate the wheel. v i

-3..In an apparatus of the characterda scribed, the combination of'a supporting structure, a device for rotatably supporting a ,wheel having a solid rubbertread, a roller,

said device being slidably mounted on the supportlng structure to permit the tread of the wheel to be brought into contact with the roller, a spring for pressing the device towards the roller, a knife for cutting the tread into strip formats the wheel is rotated, means for driving the roller torotate the wheel, and means for rendering the spring inoperative and shifting the device away from the roller to disengage the tread from the drive roller.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a supporting structure, adevice for rotatably supporting a Wheel having asolid rubber tread, a roller, said. device being slidably mounted on the supporting structure to permit the tread of the wheel to be brought into contact with the roller, a knife, the edge of said knife being disposed in close proximity to the roller and adapted to engage the tread substantially tangentially to cut the tread into strip form as the wheel is rotated, and means for driving the roller to rotate the wheel.

5. In an apparatus of the character dcscribed, the combination of a supporting structure, a device for rotatahly supporting a wheel having a solid rubber tread, a roller, said device being slidably mounted on the supporting structure to permit the trend of the wheel to be broughtinto contact with the roller, means for driving the roller to rotate the wheel, a band having a knife edge, means for supporting the band so that one margin thereof is operative to cut the tread in strip form as the wheel is rotated, and means for driving the band.

(i. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, the combination of a supporting structure, a GlHlCk-IHOIHbOI for rotatably supporting a wheel having a solid rubber tread, a roller-member, said chuck-incn'iber being movably mounted on the frame to permit the tread of the wheel to be brought into contact with the rolleranembcr, means for driving one of the members to rotate the wheel, and a knife positioned in fixed relation with re spect to the roller1nember and operat ivc, during contact of the tread and said rollcr-m01nher and drive of the wheel, to cut from the tread an elongated strip of substantially uniform thickness throughout its entire length.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a su iporting structure, a chuck for rotatably supporting a, wheel having a solid rubber tread, a rollcr,

said chuck being movably mounted on the frame to permit the tread of the whccl (o be brought into contact with the roller, means for driving the roller so as to cause rotation of the wheel when the tread is in contact with the roller, and a kni le positioned in lixcd relation with respect to the roller and opcrative, during rotation of the wheel, to cut from the tread an elongated stri p of substantially uniform thickness throughout its entire length.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a supporting structure, a chuck for rotatahly supporting a wheel having a solid rubber tread, a roller, said chuck being slidably mounted on the frame to permit the tread of the wheel to he brought into contact with the roller, means for driving the roller so as to cause rotation of the wheel when the trend is in contact. with the roller, a rotary knife positioned in fixed relation with respect to the roller and operative, during rotation of the wheel, to cut from the tread. an elongated strip of sub-- stantially uniform thickness tlnrouglmut its entire length, and means driven conjointly Withthe roller driving means for rotating the knife.

9. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, the combination of a supporting structure, an abutment member, a chuck slidable on the structure to and from the abutment member and adapted to support rotatably a Wheel having a solid rubber tread, a knife positioned in fixed relation with respect to the abutment member for cutting the tread from the Wheel during rotation of the latter, and means including a spring for automatr cally shifting the chuck to feed the Wheel against the abutment member so that the 1 knife is operative to out from the tread, during rotation of the Wheel, an elongated strip of substantially uniform thickness throughout its entire length.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 22d day 2 of October, 1927.

EDWARD D. LOElVENTHAL. 

